Heel-protector.



T. H. SULLIVAN.

HEEL PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION man NQV.1I. 1916.

1,272,143. Patented July 9, 1918.

RS co. snow-51mm. vusnmamu. u a

THOMAS H. SULLIVAN, or SIDNEY, 01110.

HEEL-PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

- Patented July 9, 1918.

Application filed November 11, 1916. Serial No. 130,780.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. SULLIVAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sidney, in the county of Shelby and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Heel-Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in heel protectors, it being particularly adapted for rubber heels either of the kind which are applied to leather shoes or the heels of rubber shoes or boots.

The object of the invention is to provide a protector of the character referred to which will be simple in construction and effective for the purpose for which it is intended.

In the accompanying drawings:-

Figure l is a bottom plan view of a rubber heel showing my improvement applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a portion of an ordinary leather shoe showing the rubber heel applied thereto and the protector embedded therein.

Fig. 3 is a rear View of the protector attachment.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a rubber heel of a kind which it is common to substitute for the ordinary leather heel of a leather shoe in the manner shown in Fig. 2 in which 2 represents that portion of the leather heel to which the rubber heel is attached after the main portion of the leather heel has been removed. It is the common practice to provide these rubber heels-with nail receiving openings 3 which extend from the bottom of the heel upwardly to about half the height of the heel, metal washers 4 being molded into the ma terial forming the heel at the upper end of the openings to receive the head of the nails 5.

My protector consists of two metallic curved plates 6 and 7 connected together by a series of solid posts 8, five of these posts being shown in the present case. These plates and posts are preferably cast integrally together but might be otherwise I formed into a rigid structure. The posts 8 are spaced apart and preferably connect with the plates 6 and 7 near the rear edge thereof. The respective plates 6 and 7 are provided with coinciding openings 9 which likewise coincide With certain of the openings 3 in the heel. The openings in the lower plate 8 are larger than the ones in the upper plate 6 so as toallow the passage of the heads of the nails 5 and permit the same to engage the lower side of the upper plate, the nails being driven through the material forming the heel into the leather heel portion 2 of the shoe and clenched as indicated in Fig. 2.

The protector, consisting of the plates 6 and 7, and the posts 8 is molded into the rubber forming the heel before vulcanization, the rubber or other material forming the heel being packed well into the spaces between the plates and posts so as to firmly anchor the upper plate into position, with the lower wear plate 7 placed flush with the tread of the heel and the nails inserted in the manner described when the heel is attached to the shoe.

By this construction it will be seen that a continuous wear plate for the tread of the heel is provided which will be firmly secured in position, the structure further providing for the insertion of the securing nails in a way which will not leave the heads of the same exposed at the tread of the heel, these fastening nails further assisting in retaining the protective device in position within the heel.

It will also be noticed that the construction is such that a continuous body of rubber is back of the rear edges of the plates and also back of the posts connecting the plates so as to provide a cushion to relieve the jar of the step at that point.

Having thus described my invention, I claim In a heel protector, the combination, with a rubber heel, of a continuous wear plate, a continuous retaining plate, posts connecting the same into a rigid structure embedded in said heel with the wear plate standing flush with the tread thereof, said plates'beto engage the under side of said retaining ing extended beyond the posts and proplate. 7 1 vided With coinciding openings eorrespond- In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set ing With openings in the heel, and fastening my hand this 30thday of October, 1916. devices, said fastening devices being passed THOMAS H. SULLIVAN. entirely through the openings of the Wear 7 lVitnesses: 7 Q 7 plate and also being extended through the ANDREW J. Hnss,

openings of the retaining plate but caused AGNES SULLIVAN.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for live cents "each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

